iPhone 5’s New Dock Connector To Be Called ‘Lightning’, New Earphones Called ‘Earpod’ [Rumor]

Wondering what Apple will call its new dock connector? No, it won’t be the “9-pin connector” — this is Apple we’re talking about, the company behind the Thunderbolt port. Instead, it’s expected to be labeled “Lightning,” and the kooky names don’t stop there. The Cupertino company is also expected to unveil a new set of earphones at its iPhone 5 event today, which will reportedly be called “Earpod,” along with a new iPod touch accessory called the “Loop.”

That’s according to sources for 9to5Mac, who are confident the iPhone 5 won’t be the only new product unveiled at Apple’s press event in San Francisco later today.

They claim the iPhone 5’s new dock connector will be labeled “Lightning,” the perfect accompaniment to Thunderbolt. The name suggests that the new 9-pin port could be significantly faster than its 30-pin predecessor, possibly taking full advantage of the USB 3.0 ports integrated into Apple’s latest Macs.

As for the cable itself, 9to5Mac claims it will sell for $20 — not $10 as previous rumors had suggested. It also claims there will several variations, including one that clips onto the bottom of the iPhone to be super secure, and another with “a little cable attached” that will work with accessories such as tight-fitting cases.

In addition to the Lightning port, new earphones are expected to be on Apple’s agenda today. We’ve already seen what those earphones look like thanks to a recent leak, and they are expected to be given the “Earpod” moniker. Yeah, I’m not sure how I feel about that one, either. As well as a new design, the earphones are expected to get better acoustics, and will retail for $29 — just like Apple’s existing earphones.

It’s unclear whether the “Earpods” will be bundled with future iOS devices, such as the iPhone 5. But that “could be the case,” apparently.

Apple is also expected to show its iPod lineup some love today. There will be a new iPod shuffle, which will maintain the same 2GB of storage as its predecessor, and will be available in eight colors, including pink, yellow, green, purple, silver, “slate,” and red.

The fourth-generation iPod touch will reportedly “stick around,” but its storage capacity will be increased from 8GB to 16GB. The device will also get a new accessory called the “Loop,” which will be available in white & black, white & red, and white & pink for $10 — though it’s unclear what the “Loop” actually is.